Daniel Crae, 38, taking a car without consent, making off without paying for diesel and driving without insurance

A callous crook took a man’s car after he had been attacked and punched in the face and was lying on a Blackpool street.

Daniel Crae saw the keys to the unconscious owner’s Mazda lying in the gutter, took them and went round the area pressing the fob until the car responded.

Over the next two days Crae drove the car round the Fylde Coast and three times filled up with fuel without paying for it.

Crae, 38, of St Thomas Road, Preston, pleaded guilty to taking a car without consent, three offences of making off without paying for diesel and two offences of driving without insurance plus two offences of driving not in accordance with his licence.

He was sentenced to 12 weeks jail suspended for 18 months, ordered to do 18 months drug rehabilitation, banned for the road for 12 months under the penalty points totting-up procedure and ordered to pay £141 compensation plus £85 costs.

Presiding magistrate, David Hearton, told him: “Your previous record is unenviable. We are giving you a last chance. If you re-offend you know what will happen.”

Prosecutor, Pam Smith, said the Mazda owner came out of the Talbot Road Conservatives Club, Buchanan Street, and later realised his car keys were missing on March 1.

Crae went to Sainsbury’s service station, Talbot Road, in the car and drove off without paying after getting £53 of fuel.

He later went to the BP garage, Garstang, where he took £51 of diesel without paying and finally took £49 of fuel before driving off from Morrisons service station on Amy Johnson Way.

Police apprehended Crae as he drove the car on Mains Lane, Singleton.

When interviewed he said he saw the car owner being knocked out and took his keys which had fallen in the gutter.

He walked about pressing the fob until the car identified itself by illuminating its lights.

Crae was described as having a lengthy criminal record which was littered with many offences of dishonesty.

Allan Cobain, defending, said Crae stole the keys as an opportunist theft.

At the time he was heavily back on drugs as his prescription for the heroin substitute methadone had been stopped.

While serving a recent prison sentence Crae had detoxed from drugs.

Since his release he had been received help from drug rehabilitation specialists.

Dean Phillips, 23, stalking

A head doorman accused of stalking a woman with knives in St Annes has made his first appearance at court.

Dean Phillips is alleged to have gone daily to his former girlfriend’s home in Boston Road, made threats with knives and waved them at his ex’s new boyfriend and her stepfather.

He is also said to have threatening to put nude pictures of her on the internet.

Phillips, a 23-year-old father, of Blackpool Road, Bispham, pleaded not guilty to stalking a woman causing her to fear violence would be used against her and attending her home between May 1 and 29.

He also denied possessing a carving knife and a small pocket knife in a public place.

Phillips was bailed to appear at Preston Crown Court for trial on June 28 on the conditions he lived at his given address, kept an overnight curfew and not contact the complainant or enter the Lytham and St Annes area.

The prosecution then gave notice they were appealing the magistrates decision to grant Phillips bail.

He will be kept in custody until the result of the appeal which will take place at Preston Crown Court as soon as possible.

Stefan Taylor, 28, burglary

A man has made his first appearance at court accused of breaking into an address in Blackpool and stealing items including a bicycle, camera, mobile phone and a bag

Stefan Taylor, 28, of no fixed address, is charged with burglary of a property in Warley Road, between May 19 and 20.

Prosecutor, Pam Smith, opposed bail for Taylor and asked for the case to be heard at crown court.

Taylor’s defence asked for bail and said his client had indicated he would plead not guilty to the offence.

Taylor was refused bail and remanded in custody to appear at Preston Crown Court on June 28.

Anthony Iddon, 34, failing to provide a blood specimen

A driver has appeared at court and pleaded not guilty to failing to provide a blood specimen for testing at Blackpool.

Anthony Iddon, 34, of St Annes Street, Preston, is also accused of driving a Mercedes on Queen Street without insurance and not in accordance with a licence on March 5.

He was bailed to June 17 for trial.

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